Govt should stagger the 50% salary increase for Ministers

Oct 15, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
The Government’s proposed 50% increase in salaries for Government Ministers has generated the first wave of ill-will towards the new administration. Many persons and organisations that covertly and publicly stood in the APNU/AFC corner before and after the elections are now giving the Coalition a look of askance. While government ministers’ salaries are embarrassing compared to top managers and CEOs of some companies, it would seem that the timing of the mammoth increase, percentage wise, is bad.
I wish not to join the chorus of critics on the matter but rather to suggest that the government stagger the increase. Perhaps, it may wish to consider 25% for this year, and 25% next year when the nation would have had more time to assess the performance of Ministers.
It is too early in the day of the APNU/AFC era for the voice of its supporters to fall on deaf and defiant ears. Ignoring the sentiments of the people altogether may prove disastrous in the long run. It will certainly alienate some sections of supporters, give the opposition ammunition, and provide reporters with a descriptive phrase that can tarnish the government’s clean slate.
As a former journalist, I can see the increase being used as leaders in news reports and as descriptive of the government. For example, headlines will read, “The APNU/AFC government, which increased its Ministers’ salaries by 50% on assuming office, is doing so and so.’’ The nomenclature can become stuck to the government like a donkey’s tail.
Reconsidering the 50% increase with a view to staggering it will not take anything off the government. On the contrary, it would add credence to it, it will demonstrate that the government is listening to the people, and it will lift the Coalition’s integrity beyond what was seen in government for the last 25 years.
Lennox Cornette

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